Theron R. Nelson

Obituary

Theron R. Nelson, 59, passed away peacefully and with his family at home on March 23, 2006 after a valiant struggle against esophageal cancer. Theron was born in Corinth, Mississippi, of Robert L. and Edna (Kranig) Nelson. Although the family home was in Eau Claire, WI, they settled in Atlanta, GA when Theron was in the third grade. He began his undergraduate education at Georgia Tech with hopes of becoming an architect, but earned his undergraduate degree in 1973 from Georgia State University's inter-disciplinary urban life program after a two-year stint in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era. Theron then completed his Masters in Governmental Administration in 1975. He held an administrative position at Georgia State, where he completed his Ph.D. in Real Estate and Urban Economics in 1983. While in the doctoral program, Theron met his wife Susan Logan, a fellow Ph.D. student in Georgia State University's Marketing program. They were married in October 1977. Erik Andrew Nelson was born in July 1979, three weeks prior to the family moving to Bowling Green, KY where Theron and Susan had joined the faculty at Western Kentucky University to begin teaching. In 1983, the Nelsons headed for what they thought would be a two-year ""adventure' in Grand Forks, ND as faculty members at the University of North Dakota. After their second child, Alex William Nelson, joined the family in 1985, the adventure turned out to be a life long commitment to Grand Forks and UND. Theron was a professor in the Department of Finance and served as its Chairperson for many years. His primary teaching interest was Real Estate Finance, and his primary research interests were in brokerage and service quality measurement. He enjoyed a long and productive publishing career with his articles appearing in the Journal of Real Estate Research, AREUEA Journal, Financial Services Review, Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management, The Appraisal Journal, and other journals, as well as authoring or co-authoring four books. Susan often partnered with Theron as a co-author of real estate articles and papers. Recently, Theron was instrumental in the development of the Lanterman Investment Center, a facility in the College of Business and Public Administration with 19 Reuters-enabled computers. He assisted with fund-raising efforts and oversaw construction and design of the Center, which provides the resources for numerous class-related projects as well as serving as the home for the newly created $600,000 student managed investment fund. The Center's trading room and investment research facility is the culmination of a long-term dream by Theron and other finance faculty at UND. Theron was also a founding member of the American Real Estate Society (ARES), which held its first official conference in October 1985. Over the years, Theron served the organization in many capacities and never missed an annual meeting. He was elected the sixth President for 1990, served as its Secretary and Treasure for over 15 years, as Executive Director for two years and was Director of Publications upon his death. Theron valued his association with ARES as an important part of his overall career. He found great joy in watching the fledgling ARES organization take hold, grow, and spawn sister societies around the globe. In Theron's words: ""It's not very often that we have an opportunity to be a part of something much greater than ourselves, that hopefully will have a lasting impact on many people.' Theron was an avid woodworker and took much pleasure in designing, renovating, and caring for our 100-year-old home. Theron was a loving husband and father who will be greatly missed, but in our hearts always. Theron is survived by: Wife: Susan Nelson, Grand Forks; Sons: Erik Nelson, Santa Monica, California; Alex Nelson, Grand Forks; Brother: Ron (Rene) Nelson, Atlanta, Georgia; Steve (Cindy) Nelson, Calhoun, Georgia; Sister: Gayle Nelson, Atlanta, Georgia; Sister-in-law, Becky McGinnis, of Virginia Beach, VA; Six nieces and nephews; One great niece. Theron was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Christopher Nelson. Funeral services will be Monday, March 27, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. in Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 South 42nd St., Grand Forks, ND. Visitation will be Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Grand Forks. www.amundsonfuneralhome.com